I AM A PROUD DATE SETTER!

I Pick Up My Cross Daily and Follow Him—I Die Daily—So Of Course I Expect Him to Come

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” — Luke 9:23

The Accusation

“You’re a date setter!”

“You’re watching for His return!”

“You’re expecting Jesus to come soon!”

“You’re analyzing the signs and seasons!”

And my response?

YES. ABSOLUTELY. PROUDLY. WITHOUT APOLOGY. GUILTY AS CHARGED!

Because that’s exactly what Jesus commanded me to do.

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The Core Commands We Cannot Fulfill in Our Own Strength

Jesus gave three parallel commands that expose our absolute depravity and our desperate need for His grace:

Matthew 10:38 “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”

Luke 9:23 “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’”

Mark 8:34  “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”

Notice the three impossible requirements:

Deny yourself
Take up your cross
Follow Me

Let me be crystal clear: In our own strength, we CANNOT do any of these things.

Not one.

Not ever.

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The Impossibility of Self-Denial

“Deny yourself.”

Think about what Jesus is asking. He’s commanding SELF to deny SELF. He’s asking the very thing that wants to preserve itself, promote itself, protect itself, and exalt itself to completely negate itself.

This is like asking water to stop being wet. Like asking fire to stop being hot. Like asking darkness to produce light.

Romans 8:7-8 - “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

“It CANNOT.”

The flesh—SELF—cannot submit to God. It is inherently, fundamentally, absolutely UNABLE to deny itself.

Jeremiah 17:9 - “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

Our hearts—our SELF—are not just slightly flawed. They are DESPERATELY sick. Deceitful above ALL things.

Genesis 6:5 - “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

“ONLY evil CONTINUALLY.”

Not sometimes evil. Not mostly evil. ONLY evil. CONTINUALLY.

This is our condition apart from Christ. We are utterly, completely, absolutely incapable of denying ourselves.

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The Point of the Entire Law: Proving We Need Grace

Why would Jesus command something we cannot do?

For the exact same reason God gave the Law.

Romans 3:19-20 - “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

The Law wasn’t given so we could keep it. The Law was given to prove we CANNOT keep it.

Galatians 3:24 - “So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”

The Law was a tutor, a schoolmaster, a guardian to lead us TO CHRIST by showing us our absolute inability to save ourselves.

Every command Jesus gives that we cannot fulfill serves the same purpose:

To drive us to our knees in desperate dependence on HIM.

To show us we are utterly depraved—depraved of anything GOOD.

To reveal that we have FALLEN—fallen from GRACE—and are DISGRACED.

To make us cry out: “LORD, SAVE ME! I CANNOT DO THIS!”

And that’s exactly where He wants us.

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The Fall: From Grace to Disgrace

When Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they didn’t just sin. They FELL FROM GRACE.

Before the fall:

- They lived in perfect dependence on God

- They walked in His presence

- They had everything they needed

- They were covered by His glory

- They were in perfect ONENESS with Him

After the fall:

- They became SELF-conscious (Genesis 3:7)

- They hid from God’s presence (Genesis 3:8)

- They were driven out of the garden (Genesis 3:24)

- They were covered in shame (Genesis 3:10)

- They were separated from ONENESS

They fell from GRACE into DISGRACE.

And so did we. All of us.

Romans 5:12 - “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”

We inherited this disgrace. This separation. This SELF that cannot deny itself.

Ephesians 2:1-3 - “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

“DEAD in trespasses and sins.”

Not sick. Not injured. DEAD.

Dead people cannot deny themselves. Dead people cannot pick up crosses. Dead people cannot follow anyone.

Dead people need RESURRECTION.

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Our Absolute Need and Dependence Upon Jesus Christ

This is the gospel in its purest form:

We are utterly, absolutely, completely helpless.

We have NOTHING good in ourselves.

We are depraved—depraved of everything GOOD.

And in our utter weakness and depravity, we cry out for HIM to save us.

Luke 18:13 - “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’”

This is the prayer God honors. Not the prayer of the self-righteous Pharisee who lists his good works. But the desperate cry of the broken sinner who knows he has nothing to offer.

Psalm 51:17 - “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

God doesn’t despise our brokenness. He HONORS it. Because our brokenness is what drives us to Him.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

“My power is made perfect in WEAKNESS.”

His strength shines brightest in our weakness. His goodness is most visible in our depravity. His grace is most amazing when we have absolutely nothing to offer.

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By His Grace Alone: He Denies Himself FOR Us and IN Us

Here’s the beautiful, stunning, overwhelming truth:

We cannot deny ourselves. But HE can. And HE does. FOR us and IN us.

He Denied Himself FOR Us

Philippians 2:5-8 - “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Jesus:

- Emptied Himself (denied His divine privileges)

- Took the form of a servant (denied His rightful position)

- Humbled Himself (denied His glory)

- Became obedient to death (denied His very life)

He did what we cannot do. He denied Himself completely, absolutely, perfectly.

And He did it FOR US.

2 Corinthians 5:21 - “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

The sinless one became sin. The one who knew no SELF took on all our SELF. The perfectly obedient one was treated as the rebel.

He denied Himself so we could be saved.

He Denies Himself IN Us

But it doesn’t stop there. Because now, through the Holy Spirit, He lives IN us and denies Himself THROUGH us.

Galatians 2:20 - “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

“It is NO LONGER I who live, but CHRIST who lives in me.”

This is the only way we can fulfill the command to deny ourselves: By letting Christ deny Himself in us and through us.

Philippians 2:13 - “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

He gives us:

- The DESIRE to deny ourselves (the willing)

- The ABILITY to deny ourselves (the working)

Both are His work. Both are His grace. Both are gifts we receive, not achievements we produce.

John 15:5 - “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

“Apart from me you can do NOTHING.”

Including denying ourselves. Including picking up our cross. Including following Him.

EVERYTHING is by His grace.

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Taking Up the Cross Daily: Living in Constant Expectation

Now we come to the heart of why I am a proud “date setter.”

Luke 9:23 - “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross DAILY and follow me.’”

DAILY.

Not once. Not occasionally. DAILY.

What does it mean to take up your cross daily?

It means dying daily.

1 Corinthians 15:31 - “I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day!”

Paul died every day. Every single day, he surrendered his life, his will, his plans, his desires to Christ.

Every single day, he said: “Not my will, but Yours. Not my life, but Christ’s. Not my kingdom, but God’s.”

And if I’m dying daily, then of course I’m expecting His return daily.

Because a person who has died has nothing left in this world. A person who has taken up their cross has no future here. A person who is crucified with Christ is waiting for resurrection.

When you die daily, you HOPE daily for His coming.

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The ONLY Thing Worth Living For

Philippians 1:21-23 - “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”

Paul’s desire: To DEPART and be with Christ.

That was his daily hope. His daily expectation. His daily longing.

Not because he was trying to escape (SELF-preservation).

But because he LOVED CHRIST and wanted to be with Him.

Philippians 3:8 - “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”

Everything else is RUBBISH compared to knowing Christ.

Your business empire? Rubbish.
Your political influence? Rubbish.
Your wealth? Rubbish.
Your reputation? Rubbish.
Your comfort? Rubbish.
Your achievements? Rubbish.

Only Christ matters.

And if only Christ matters, then the ONLY thing worth hoping for, the ONLY thing worth expecting, the ONLY thing worth setting your heart on is HIS RETURN.

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IS TODAY THE DAY, LORD?

This is the cry of my heart every single morning when I wake up:

“Is today the day, Lord?”

“Is today the day You rescue humanity from SELF?”

“Is today the day of our wedding?”

“Is today the day You come for Your Bride?”

This isn’t date-setting in the way the mockers accuse. I’m not circling a date on the calendar and saying, “Jesus is definitely coming on this exact day.”

But I AM:

- Watching the signs (Luke 21:28)
- Discerning the times (Luke 12:56)
- Recognizing the season (Matthew 24:32-33)
- Expecting His return (Titus 2:13)
- Longing for His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8)
- Living in readiness (Matthew 24:44)

And asking every single day: “Is today the day?”

Because that’s what someone who has died daily DOES.

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What Else Is There to Think About?

Seriously. What else is there?

If I’ve denied myself (by His grace working in me)…

If I’ve picked up my cross (which means I’m already dead)…

If I’m following Him (which means my only destination is where He is)…

Then what else would I think about? What else would I hope for? What else would I long for?

Colossians 3:1-4 - “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

“SEEK the things that are ABOVE, where CHRIST is.”

“SET YOUR MINDS on things that are ABOVE.”

“For you have DIED.”

“When Christ who IS YOUR LIFE appears…”

My life is Christ. My hope is Christ. My future is Christ. My everything is Christ.

So OF COURSE I’m thinking about His return. OF COURSE I’m watching for it. OF COURSE I’m expecting it.

What else would a dead person be waiting for except resurrection?

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The Grace That Enables This Hope

Let me be absolutely clear: I cannot produce this hope in my own strength.

Just like I cannot deny myself in my own strength, I cannot genuinely hope for Christ’s return in my own strength.

This hope is GIVEN by grace.

Romans 15:13 - “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

“The God of HOPE.”

He IS hope. He GIVES hope. He FILLS us with hope.

By the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Not by our willpower. Not by our discipline. Not by our determination.

By HIS POWER working in us.

Titus 2:11-14 - “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

Look at what GRACE does:

- Grace brings salvation
- Grace TRAINS us to renounce ungodliness
- Grace enables us to live godly lives
- Grace causes us to WAIT for our blessed hope

“WAITING FOR OUR BLESSED HOPE.”

This is what grace-filled people do. They WAIT. They WATCH. They EXPECT.

And this waiting isn’t passive resignation. It’s active, eager, daily anticipation.

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The Blessed Hope

Titus 2:13 - “Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Notice what the hope is NOT:

- Not hope for a better life here
- Not hope for earthly prosperity
- Not hope for political change
- Not hope for personal success
- Not hope for comfortable retirement

The blessed hope is “the APPEARING of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

HIM. His appearing. His return. His glory.

1 John 3:2-3 - “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

“When HE APPEARS.”

“Everyone who THUS HOPES in Him.”

This hope—this eager expectation of His appearing—has a sanctifying effect. It PURIFIES us.

Why? Because when you’re expecting the Bridegroom at any moment, you want to be ready. You want to be found faithful. You want your lamp full of oil.

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The Accusations and the Truth

Accusation 1: “You’re Trying to Escape”

The Lie: “You just want Jesus to come so you can escape your problems. That’s selfish.”

The Truth: No. I want Jesus to come because I LOVE HIM. Because I long to see Him face to face. Because I want to be with Him forever. Because His glory is my goal, not my comfort.

Philippians 1:23 - “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”

Far better than what? Far better than earthly success, comfort, or ease. Paul wanted to be with CHRIST, not to escape difficulties.

Revelation 22:17 - “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’”

The Bride doesn’t say “Come rescue us.” The Bride says “COME”—a cry of love and longing for the Bridegroom Himself.

Accusation 2: “You’re Not Focused on the Here and Now”

The Lie: “You’re so heavenly minded you’re no earthly good.”

The Truth: Actually, the opposite is true. Those who are most heavenly minded are MOST earthly good because they’re not building their own kingdoms—they’re ambassadors for Christ’s Kingdom.

2 Corinthians 5:20 - “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

We ARE focused on the here and now—but our focus is on begging people to be reconciled to God BEFORE it’s too late.

Our watching and expectation doesn’t make us lazy—it makes us URGENT.

Accusation 3: “You’re Being Irresponsible”

The Lie: “If you’re expecting Jesus to come any day, you won’t plan for the future, save money, or be responsible.”

The Truth: We’re called to be faithful stewards of everything God has given us TODAY while simultaneously watching for His return TOMORROW.

Luke 12:42-43 - “And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.’”

The faithful servant is DOING his work when the Master returns. Not sitting idle. Not neglecting duties.

But also not building his own empire or settling into this world.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 - “This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.”

We engage with this world LIGHTLY. We hold everything LOOSELY. We’re IN the world but not OF it.

We work. We provide. We fulfill responsibilities.

But our hearts are not here. Our treasure is not here. Our hope is not here.

Accusation 4: “Matthew 24:36 Says You Can’t Know”

The Lie: “But of that day and hour no one knows. So stop watching, stop expecting, stop analyzing signs.”

The Truth: Matthew 24:36 says we can’t know the exact day and hour—it does NOT say we can’t know the SEASON, the SIGNS, or the PROXIMITY.

Matthew 24:32-33 - “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.”

“You KNOW that summer is near.”

“You KNOW that He is near.”

“At the very GATES.”

We CAN know it’s close. We SHOULD be watching. We’re COMMANDED to discern the times.

1 Thessalonians 5:4 - “But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.”

We are NOT in darkness. That day will NOT surprise us (if we’re watching).

(For a complete breakdown of the Matthew 24:36 deception, see [THE MATTHEW 24:36 DECEPTION]

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The Commands to Watch

Jesus didn’t just allow us to watch for His return. He COMMANDED it. Repeatedly.

Matthew 24:42 “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”

“STAY AWAKE.”

If we’re not supposed to watch, why the command to stay awake?

Mark 13:33-37 “Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come… And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

“Be on GUARD, keep AWAKE.”

Four times in these verses: “Watch!” “Stay awake!” “Be on guard!” “Stay awake!”

Luke 21:36 “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

“Stay awake AT ALL TIMES.”

“Praying that you may have strength to ESCAPE.”

Escape what? The tribulation. The wrath to come. The judgment on Babylon.

This is the harpazo. The rapture. The blessed hope.

Matthew 25:13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

“WATCH therefore.”

The command to watch is BECAUSE we don’t know the exact moment—which means we should ALWAYS be ready, ALWAYS watching, ALWAYS expecting.

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What Does It Mean to Watch?

Watching means:

1. Studying the Signs

Luke 21:28-31 - “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near… So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.”

“When you SEE these things.”

We’re supposed to be LOOKING. OBSERVING. RECOGNIZING.

2. Discerning the Times

Luke 12:56 - “You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”

Jesus calls them HYPOCRITES for NOT discerning the times.

If Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for not discerning the times leading to His first coming, how much more should we be discerning the times leading to His second coming?

3. Understanding the Patterns

Daniel 9:2 - “I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.”

Daniel STUDIED Scripture. He CALCULATED the years. He KNEW the time was near.

Was Daniel a “date setter”? No. Daniel was WISE, OBEDIENT, and WATCHING.

And what was God’s response? God sent Gabriel with MORE revelation (Daniel 9:21-23).

God REWARDS those who watch and study His Word, not rebukes them.

4. Recognizing the Convergence

When multiple signs converge—feast days, prophetic timelines, geopolitical events, covenant confirmations—we PAY ATTENTION.

Not to be arrogant. Not to boast. Not for SELF.

But because we’re WATCHMEN who’ve been commanded to watch and warn.

Ezekiel 33:6 - “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.”

If we see signs converging and STAY SILENT, we’re guilty.

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The Daily Question: Is Today the Day?

So every morning, I wake up and ask:

“Is today the day, Lord?”

“Is today the day You rescue humanity from SELF?”

“Is today the day we finally shed these bodies of death and put on immortality?”

“Is today the day the Bride meets the Bridegroom?”

“Is today the day we see You face to face?”

“Is today the day Your glory is fully revealed?”

“Is today the day we’re caught up together in the clouds?”

“Is today the day we’re transformed in the twinkling of an eye?”

“Is today the day we hear the trumpet sound?”

“Is today the day we enter Your rest?”

This isn’t anxious worry. This isn’t SELF-focused fear. This isn’t trying to escape.

This is LOVE. This is HOPE. This is the cry of the Bride for the Bridegroom.

This is the natural outflow of dying daily and living for Christ alone.

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Why “Date Setting” Is Actually Biblical

Let me reframe this entirely:

“Date setting” as the world defines it = Arrogantly declaring “Jesus is definitely coming on X date” and then being proven wrong, bringing shame to the gospel.

“Date setting” as I practice it = Waking up every single day with the expectation that THIS could be the day, watching the signs, discerning the seasons, and living in constant readiness.

The first is presumption. The second is obedience.

The first is SELF-focused. The second is Christ-focused.

The first brings shame. The second brings hope.

When I say “I am a proud date setter,” I mean:

I Set My Heart on ONE Date: TODAY

2 Corinthians 6:2 - “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

NOW. TODAY. This is the day that matters.

Hebrews 3:13 - “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

“Every DAY, as long as it is called ‘TODAY.’”

I Set My Hope on ONE Event: His Appearing

2 Timothy 4:8 - “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

“All who have LOVED His appearing.”

Not “all who were indifferent to His appearing.”

Not “all who mocked those watching for His appearing.”

But “all who LOVED His appearing.”

That’s me. I LOVE His appearing. I LONG for it. I EXPECT it.

I Set My Mind on ONE Place: Where Christ Is

Colossians 3:1-2 - “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

My mind is set ABOVE. On Christ. On Heaven. On the coming Kingdom.

Not on building Babylon. Not on accumulating wealth. Not on earthly success.

I Set My Life on ONE Foundation: His Grace

1 Corinthians 3:11 - “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Everything I am, everything I have, everything I hope for is built on CHRIST ALONE.

By GRACE alone.

Through FAITH alone.

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The Rescue of All Creation

Romans 8:19-23 - “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

All of creation is groaning.

Waiting. Longing. Groaning for the revealing of the sons of God.

And we—who have the Spirit—we GROAN INWARDLY as we wait for:

- Our adoption as sons (full manifestation)

- The redemption of our BODIES (resurrection/transformation)

This isn’t just about me. This isn’t just about the Church.

This is about the rescue of ALL CREATION from the curse of SELF.

When Jesus returns for His Bride, it’s the beginning of the restoration of EVERYTHING.

Acts 3:21 - “Whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.”

The restoration of ALL THINGS.

So when I wake up and ask “Is today the day?”—I’m not just asking about my personal deliverance.

I’m asking:

“Is today the day You begin the restoration of ALL THINGS?”

“Is today the day creation is set free from bondage?”

“Is today the day the curse is reversed?”

“Is today the day SELF is finally defeated?”

“Is today the day Your GOODNESS is fully revealed?”

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The Wedding Day

Revelation 19:7-9 - “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God.’”

“The marriage of the Lamb has COME.”

This is the ultimate union. The ultimate ONENESS. The ultimate fulfillment of everything God has been working toward since Genesis 1.

The Bridegroom and His Bride, united forever.

And every day I wake up, I wonder:

“Is today our wedding day?”

Not because I’m trying to escape. Not because I’m irresponsible. Not because I’m presumptuous.

But because I LOVE HIM. I LONG FOR HIM. I WANT TO BE WITH HIM.

What bride doesn’t eagerly anticipate her wedding day?

What bride doesn’t wake up each morning wondering “Is today the day?”

What bride isn’t constantly preparing, watching, making herself ready?

This is normal. This is healthy. This is biblical.

The problem isn’t with those who are watching. The problem is with those who have stopped watching.

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The Accusation Reversed

So when someone accuses me: “You’re a date setter!”

I respond:

“Yes. I set my date with Christ for TODAY. And tomorrow, I’ll set it again. And every day after that until He comes.”

“I pick up my cross DAILY. I die DAILY. So of course I expect Him DAILY.”

“I deny myself DAILY (by His grace). So of course my only hope is HIS appearing DAILY.”

“I follow Him DAILY. So of course I’m watching for His return DAILY.”

And then I ask them:

“Why AREN’T you watching?”